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Mikser: we have much to learn from Ukraine

Tallinn, 28 May – At a meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Stepan Poltorak in Panevežys, Lithuania, Estonian Minister of Defence Sven Mikser discussed the security situation in Ukraine and possibilities for strengthening defence cooperation.

Mikser confirmed Estonia’s full support for Ukraine, who in defending its territorial integrity is also defending Estonia’s values. “We have similar objectives and values and unfortunately also the same security concerns,” said Mikser. “Although there are many fields where we can be of service to Ukraine, we can also learn much from Ukraine.”

At the meeting, the Ukrainian defence minister thanked Estonia for assistance provided and the defence ministers mapped cooperation fields for further progress. In addition to good cooperation in cyber defence and battlefield medicine, they agreed on expanding combat engineer training cooperation and cooperation in the field of army training in general.

General Poltorak expressed a desire to learn from Estonia’s experiences in developing the reserve forces, involving volunteers and developing the mobilization system. “Estonia has made the right decisions at the right time, above all in developing its reserve forces system,” said Poltorak.

Poltorak invited Mikser on a visit to Kyiv to provide a more thorough overview of the challenges ahead for Ukraine and to strengthen cooperation in various fields even further.

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Servicemen from the United Kingdom, who are serving in Estonia within the framework of the presence of NATO, received mission medals at the ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence. Among others, a mission medal was presented to Colonel Giles Harris, Commander of the eFP Command in Estonia, who has been serving in Estonia since the arrival of the allied units in the spring of 2017.

Friday, Ministers of Defence from Estonia, Latvia and Denmark inaugurated Headquarters Multinational Division North, located at the Ādaži military camp, in Latvia. The purpose of Headquarters Multinational Division North is to enhance the defens capability of the region and connect the region’s forces with the Alliance’s highest Command Structure.